- former tourism ministry reportedly refused with them
In a significant step towards addressing water crisis in Maun and surrounding areas, the Ministry of Water and Human Settlements plans to utilise the Gomoti wellfield to supply residents with water.
The 10 Gomoti boreholes were reportedly drilled in 2022 with the purpose of supplying the villagers with water but the wells up to date remain unutilised. According to Minister of Water and Human Settlements, Onnetse Ramogapi, the then Ministry of Environment and Tourism refused to grant permission for the use of the boreholes for public consumption arguing that it will result in human-wildlife conflict.
Addressing a kgotla meeting in Maun this week, Ramogapi announced that he will soon be meeting with the new minister, Wynter Mmolotsi for him to reconsider the previous decision. Ramogapi said they want the boreholes to be part of the solution in addressing prevailing Maun water challenges adding that they want the shortage to be a thing of the past.
“My assignment from here is to meet with the minister and inform him that we need those boreholes. We have said in this new government that the law has been made to help people not to violate them. President Duma Boko told us that if the law violates people, it should be repealed so that Batswana can be assisted.”
He stressed, “there is no how boreholes that have long been drilled in 2022 and have sufficient water can remain unutilised while Maun people still cry shortage.”
Meanwhile, Ramogapi added that one of the factors of water challenges is the delay by Botswana Power Corporation (BPC) to connect electricity to seven other boreholes they have engaged them to. Acknowledging that frequent power outages lead to water supply failures, the minister indicated that they have procured generators as power backups.
That as it may, the minister said they have also realised that that there are lots of illegal boreholes around Maun of which their owners have not acquired land rights as well as licenses from the water apportionment board. He warned the culprits that the law will soon be put to in place to address the situation.
For his part, Maun East Member of Parliament, Goretetse Kekgonegile advised the minister to speed up the process of drawing water from the Chobe Zambezi River to augment supply in North West. He noted that as the population grows water demand will also increase fearing that the available boreholes may not sustain the pressure.
As for Gomoti boreholes, Kekgonegile indicated that the idea has long been said but complained that there was never action taken. He has since pleaded with the new government to speed up the process noting that the hope was for the minister to have given time frames.
He further urged the ministry to consider using solar energy to pump water from the boreholes instead of relying on electricity that has regular power cuts. “This could make things better since we have frequent electricity outages affecting water supply.”
